A judge says the city of Warren did not violate the law when it barred atheists from displaying an anti-religion sign next to a nativity scene at city hall.

Federal Judge Lawrence Zatkoff said Warren Mayor Jim Fouts had authority to bar the poster last Christmas because he felt it was antagonistic and would cause hostility. The judge says officials were not excluding a religious group or a non-religious group.Warren city Mayor Jim Fouts said, “As I stated in my letter to this anti-religion group (and upheld by the Court), the Nativity Scene did not constitute an endorsement of any religion, especially in view of the fact that we allowed other religions to celebrate their holiday seasons with displays at City Hall... The bottom line is the Nativity Scene will continue to be displayed at City Hall during the holiday season and the anti-religion sign will not.”

Top Opinion

The judge has spoken! Hey, I have no problem with an atheist.they have free will to believe how they want to...Why does it bother the majority of them ,that the MAJORITY of our Country believes in God?

I would find it tastless at best to display a Cross next to a Star of David displayed for Hannaka or beside a Cresent or any other symbol of religion during that groups Holy Day.

Besides, atheist i have chatted with on SH constantly get royaly pissed when i refer to their "anti-faith" as a religion, so why pull such a trashy act during any Holy Day except just to spark a fight?

I've said before, atheist sure spend a lot of time obsessing with Someone They claim does not exist.

I don't have a problem with the ban, as long as the nativity scene is banned too. But you can't give favorable treatment to one religion, without giving those who do not share that religion equal liberty to display THEIR beliefs.

In a public space that is dangerously close to violating (read "a complete violation of") the atheist groups right to free speech, also his reasoning is bunk, it is obvious that the nativity scene has already caused hostility, by this logic it should be removed.

I don't know what the sign said, but unless it was advocating violence against someone, I don't know what it could have said that was so antagonistic.
The government is the only thing protecting our country from being a theocracy, with no religious freedom. Christians have been chipping away at that for years. Putting Nativity Scenes on courthouse lawns is part of that campaign. Why is it that it's fine for Christians to assert their beliefs, but not atheists?

No one's advocating that they can't. However, anyone with a remote sense of decorum would understand that placing it directly next to a Nativity scene is nothing less than antagonistic and provocation. But then, this is Soda Head isn't it?

"the Nativity Scene will continue to be displayed at City Hall during the holiday season"
-----------------------------...Did you catch that anti-Christian phrase "holiday season" by the Mayor ? And you thought the Atheists were waging a war on Xmas.

If they are going to allow displays of all religions beliefs as the article claims. They must also display the beliefs of Atheists or they are picking and choosing which 1st Amendment Rights they are allowing and which they are banning and that is a violation of their rights

Is just another slap in the face by the antagonistic atheist, which they will slap you over and over and over and over and over again until you yield to their ways,,,,,,,,which their ways have a sentance of death upon them. But Christ is the way

Really, are you talking to me? are you talking to me? If so, you are talking to the wrong person, go to BO, and then go get some wisdom from the Catholic on what this press is putting this nation of religious freedom and equality through. Bo's the one who is refusing to allow it to stay that way.

Press - ( president) thats what I meant. Re-read my first post and put president in the place of "press".

Please tell me one religious freedom he's taken away from you.

Forcing taxpayers to support planned parenthood. It goes against what the Lord said : I am the way the truth and the life. The evil one comes to kill, steal and destroy. God says to protect the innocent, not kill them (abortion, late term, full term) its being done. This goes against my faith. Its wrong, and as a christian I must stand up for the innocent and speak out, as I am doing now.

The Hyde Amendment prohibits tax dollars from being used to fund abortion. Your tax dollars are paying for mamagrams, sonagrams, and other womens health services. They have a different pot of money which are paying for abortion services. I wonder if you were as strong in your principals when President Obama's predecessor was spending ridiculous amounts of your tax dollars to fund an unjust war, or to give tax-cuts to the rich?